Tweezers



S. SEGAL May 28, 1929.

TWEEZERS Filed Jan. 12

' INVENTOR M M Patented May 28, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL SEGAL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO SEGAL AUTOMATIC TWE EZER CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ACORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TWEEZERS.

Application filed January This invention relates to a tweezer of improved construction.

While the invention may be employed for numerous different purposes, it is particularly intended to provide a device of the type stated by means of which hairs or other embedded particles may be removed in a practi cally painless manner.

A further object is predicated on the construction of a tweezer which will firmly grip the particle during its removal.

An additional object is that of providing a tweezer which will efficiently perform the purposes for which it is intended, and which will also be economically and readily manufactured and easily assembled.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form of tweezer embodying the improved construction of the present invention, and showing the parts thereof disposed in locked position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the parts in operative position;

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the device as shown in Fig. 1; n

Fig. 4 is a partly fragmentary sectional view of the device as illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, and showing in section a slightly different arrangement of the parts from that illustrated in this fi ure:

Fig. 6 shows a side elevation of the device as illustrated in Fig.5; and

Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 are fragmentary sectional views of various details of construction which may be embodied in the present tool.

In these several views it will be seen that the tweezer proper includes a pair of jaws 10, which, as in Figs. 1 to 4 and 10, may be retained in operative relation by bending the inner ends of the same as at 11, in order to bear against the outer faces of a block 12 12, 1925. Serial No. 1,775.

which is interposed between the inner ends of these jaws, and to also embrace a shank or pin 13 extending from the block.

The block 12 may be retracted within a sleeve or tube 14, but is normally pressed outwardly therefrom incident to the fact that the pin 13 has its inner end secured to a plunger 15 slidable within this tube, a spring 16 bearing against the inner face of this plunger in order to effect the desired result. The opposite end of the spring 16, according to the present exemplification, bears against a block 17, the position of which may be ad- ]usted by mounting it upon the inner end of a screw-threaded shaft 18, the body of which extends through a correspondingl tlif'eaded opening in the tube head 19 an carries a knurled member 20, by means of which it may be turned. Thus, according to the amount of such turning the spring 16 -is tensionedto a greater or less extent, and it will accordingly be appreciated that a corresponding degree of resistance will be offered tobthe retraction of the plunger within the tu e.

According to the present exemplification, each of the jaws has the inner end of one of a pair of links 21 pivotally secured to it, the outer ends of these links being similarly attached, one to each of a pair of arms 22. It

is here to be noted that the outer ends of the links extend beyond the outer points of pivotal attachment and terminate in what might be termed shoulders 23 adapted for engagement with the inner faces of these arms. As a consequence, and as has been particularly shown in Fig. 2, these shoulders constitute stops in order to limit the out-ward movement of the tweezer proper, it being appreciated that the inner ends of the arms 22 are pivotally attached as at 24' to the head 19 afore referred to. This limit of movement is such, according to the present embodiment, that the links will be retained in a non-aligned position. 1

Consequently, with the parts disposed in the manner shown in Fig. 2, the tweezer may have the outer ends of its jaws brought into contact, and its inner end retracted within the tube 14 by simply pressing upon the outer faces of the arms 22, and upon the parts being released they will again assume the position shown in the figure last referred to, incident, first, to the spring 16, and secondly, due to the fact that springs preferably bear against the inner faces of the arms 22 adjacent their points of connection with the tube head 19. It is of interest to note that in such projection of the parts to assume the position shown in Fig. 2 the mechanism will operate quite rapidly, and will be brought to a sudden stop particularly by the provision of the, shoulders 23, so that any elements or par ticles of matter adhering to the jaws of the tweezer will be snapped clear of the same upon the mechanism coming to rest. Also,

in the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, due to the fact that the outer faces of the rearward portions of the jaws 10 extend at an angle to each other, and furthermore, due to the confining influence of the tube 14, it will be appreciated that during the retraction of the parts the outer ends of the jaws will be forced into a most intimate contact.

In some instances it may be preferable to adopt the construction suggested in Figs. 5 and 6. In these views, similarly to the views aforedescribed, the instrument includes a tweezer comprising a pair of aws 10 actuated by means of the arms 22 through the medium of links 21. However, instead of utilizing a tube such as that aforedescribed it is preferred that a split tube 26 be employed, which has a tapered nose 27 and a head portion 28 formed with an internally-threaded bore and serving as a point of pivotal mounting for the inner ends of the arms 22. Disposed within thisbore is a shaft or pin 29, the threads of which are adapted to engage the threads of the bore, and this shaft has at least its outer portion hollow and terminates in an enlarged foot 30 extending at a point beyond the nose 27 of the tube 26. Thus, the more the shaft 29 is retracted the greater the extent of the bearing of the foot against the nose of the tube, and, consequently, the latter will be expanded to a greater extent than would otherwise be the case. Each of the jaws 10 in the views under consideration, instead of being connected together in the manner described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4:, are coupled by' being pivotally attached to a block 31 common to both of the same, and the inner ends of these jaws are so shaped that they are capable of riding over the exterior faces of the tube 26. Interposed between the inner faces of the block 31- and the foot 30 of the shaft 29 is a spring 32, which serves a function similar to that served by the spring 16, and thus, the parts will normally be disposed in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5. In order to guide the block 31 during its retraction and projection it is preferred that a pin 33 be employed, which pin slidably extends through a bore forming part of the block, and it is obvious that according to thedegree of adjustment of the shaft '29 the outer ends f the jaws will be caused to more or less informed with openings 35, which are of a size to permit of the passage of the hook-shaped inner end portions 36 of the arms 22. Thus, during the assembly of the apparatus these portions may be passed to extend into the bore of the tube. After they have. been brought to this position a sleeve 37 is rammed into the mouth of the tube in such a manner that it frictionally engages the face of the tube bore, acts to constrict the inner ends of the openings 35, and has its inner face in contact with the innermost .ends' of'the hookshaped portions 36. Thus, an accidental re-' traction of the parts is prevented, in that the arms will have their inner ends firmly an:

chored in position, it being of courseappreciated that when this construction is adopted it may be advisable to form the arms 22 of a somewhat resilient metal.

Likewise, and with particular reference to the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the jaws 10 of the tweezer ma be pivotally attached to each other, as in igs. 8 and 9, and suitably guided by simply forming these jaws with openings,'through which the ends of a pair of members 38 extend, the bodies of these members being disposed between the jaws and bein bulged outwardlyas at 39 in order to slida ly accommodate the pin 33, these members thus providing what might be termed a block.

In all of these constructions it will be understood that this instrument when employed, for example, for the removing of superfluous hair, will serve to grip the member to be removed by simply exerting pressure upon the arms 22, and by a continuance of this pressure the tweezer portion of the device will snap rearwardly, thus removing-the member with practically no pain being felt by the person using the device. Uponthe arms 22 being then released the tweezer will be snapped away from the head of the instrument, and the parts upon reaching their limit of movement will be abruptly brought to a stop so that a member which has been removed will,

incident to-its inertia, be expelled from be-,

tween the jaws.

It is obvious that the parts may be adjusted with that de ree of nicety most consistent with the obtalning of proper results, and in this connection it will be appreciated that the gripping elements, i. e., in the present in stance the jaws of the tweezer, will be intimately pressed into contact with each other immediately after they begin their movement of retraction, so: that when a pulling strain is exerted upon a hair or particle to be removed the latter will not be liable to'slip from its position between the jaws. Finally, it will be perceived that the head, as in Figs. 1 and 2, may carry a plate 40, the outer end of which terminates in a pair of arms 41 adapted to engage the outer faces of the arms 22 when the parts are in their normal or locked position, as in Fig. 1, to prevent any expansion of these arms and consequent operation of the mechanism associated therewith.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the objects of this invention have been accomplished, and since certain changes may be made in the above construction, and differentembodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which as a matter of l ariguage might be said to fall therebetween.

aving described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tweezer including a pair of jaws movable into gripping position, means for actuating said jaws to initially establish such position and subsequently move the same bodily rearwardly, means for automatically reestablishing said jaws in non-cooperating position upon said last-named means being released and means for abruptly terminating the action of said re-establishing means whereby to project any particle adhering to said jaws out of engagement therewith. v

2. A tweezer including a pair of jaws, arms connected to said jaws to bring the same into gripping positions and subsequently shift them bodily rearwardly, a spring resisting the rearward movement of said jaws Y and actin upon the release of said arms to re-establis the open and projected condition thereof and means forming a part of said tweezer and acting as a stop for said spring to abruptly terminate the projection and opening of said jaws beyond a predetermined point whereby to snap any particle adhering to said jaws out of engagement therewith.

3. A tweezer, including, in combination, a pair of gripping jaws, means for bringing the same into gripping position, means whereby they may be released from gripping position, and means acting during said release to expel in a positive manner an article gripped by said jaws. If

4. A tweezer, including, in combination, a pair of jaws, a pair of arms and links interposed between and pivotally connected to the inner faces of the same and the outer faces of said jaws for moving the latter into gripping position, and means'acting against the outer faces and'adjacent the inner ends of said jaws for causing a positive gripping of an article grasped between the outer ends of the jaws.

5. A tweezer, includingfln combination, a pair of arms having their inner ends bent to extend at an angle to their bodies, jaws connected with'said arms and movable with the same into gripping position, a tube formed with openings through its body, through which openings the arm ends are adapted to be disposed, and means within said tube for anchoring the ends of said arms in position.

6. A tweezer, including in combination, a pair of gripping jaws, means for resisting bodily rearward movement thereof, means for moving said jaws into gripping position and subsequently forcing the same bodily rearwardly against the tendency of said resisting means, and means for varying the intimacy of engagement of said jaws and the amount of resistance offered to the rearward movement thereof. v

7. A tweezer, including, in combination, a pair of arms having their inner ends bent to extend at an angle to their bodies, aws connected with said arms and movable with the same into gripping position, atube formed with openings through its body, through which openings the arm ends are adapted to be disposed, and a sleeve disposed within said tube and arranged adjacent the openings therethrough, said sleeve engaging the ends of said arms and anchoring the same in position.

8. A tweezer, including, in combination, a block, a pair of jaws having the upper portions of their bodies disposed adjacent the side faces of said block, their inner ends being bent to extend around the upper end of the same, and means for retaining the parts in position, the outer portions of saidjaws being movable into gripping contact with each other.

9. A tweezer, including, in combination, a block, a pair of jaws having the upper portions of their bodies disposed adjacent the side faces of said block, their inner ends being bent toextend around the upper end of the same, a pinextending between said in- .ner ends and from said block, and means for retaining the parts in position, the outer portions of said jaws being movable into gripping contact with each other.

10. A tweezer, including, in combination, a block, a pair of jaws having the upper portions of their bodies disposed adjacent the side faces of said block, their inner ends being bent to extend around the upper end of the same, and a sleeve bearing against the outer faces of said members to retain all of said parts in assembled position, the outer portions 4 of said jaws being movable into gripping contact with each other.

' from a fixed point, and a tube engaging the inner ends of said jaws and acting to force the opposite ends of the same into intimate contact.

12. A tweezer, including, in combination, a pair of connected jaws, means for moving the same into gripping position and away from a fixed point, a tube engaging the inner ends of said jaws and acting to force the opposite ends ofthe same into intimate contact, and means associated with said tube for varying such degree of contact.

13. A tweezer, including, in combination, a pair of jaws, means for moving the same to gripping and releasing positions, and a resilient plate having portions adapted to cooperate with said jaws to retain the latter in-a normally closed position.

14. A tweezer, including, in combination, a pair of gripping jaws, means for guiding the movements of the inner ends of the same, a pair of arms connected with said last-named means, means for normally urging said jaws outwardly and into a position separated from each other, and a pair of links extending between and connecting said arms with said jaws, said links being adapted to cooperate with one of the elements with which they are connected to act as stop members abruptly limiting the outward movement of said jaws to expel an article gripped between the same.

15. A tweezer, including, in combination, a pair of movable jaws, a tube contacting with the outer faces of said jaws and adjacent the inner ends of said jaws for guiding the movements thereof, a pair of arms, and rearwardly inclined links extending between said arms and jaws whereby upon pressure being applied to said arms said jaws will move into contact and will subsequently be moved rearwardly. i

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature;

SAMUEL SEGAL.- 

